Regulatory Policy For Electronic Cigarettes

China is the inventor and main producer of electronic cigarettes. More than 90% of the world's electronic cigarettes come from Shenzhen, China and other places, but my country's supervision is still blank. In my country, e-cigarettes are neither medicines, nor health products, medical devices, nor tobacco. Therefore, most e-cigarettes are in a state of "three noes", that is, no product standards, no quality supervision, and no safety evaluation.

Internationally, there are also great differences in the attitudes and policies of various governments towards e-cigarettes. Some countries consider it a consumer product, others a drug, and still others a tobacco product. Therefore, policies on e-cigarettes are also different, some countries support it, some countries prohibit it, some countries carry out appropriate control, and some countries have not made a statement until 2019.

In response to the e-cigarette issue reported at the "3.15" party, the National Equities Exchange and Quotations Company has asked listed companies involved in the production and sales of e-cigarettes to conduct self-examination and fully disclose whether the relevant products have adverse effects on human health.

On June 3, 2019, the official website of the National Standardization Administration showed that the national standard formulation plan for "Electronic Cigarettes" was issued on October 11, 2017. The competent authority is the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, which is a mandatory national standard. At present, the mandatory national standard of "E-Cigarette" has been reviewed and is in the "approval" status. According to the project schedule, it may be released within the year [11] .

On November 1, 2019, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the "Notice on Further Protecting Minors from Electronic Cigarettes". The "Notice" mentions that enterprises or individuals that produce and sell electronic cigarettes are urged to shut down the Internet sales websites or clients of electronic cigarettes in a timely manner; e-commerce platforms are urged to close electronic cigarette stores in a timely manner and remove electronic cigarette products from shelves in a timely manner; Selling businesses or individuals withdraw e-cigarette advertisements posted over the Internet.

On July 13, 2020, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration held a teleconference on the deployment of a special inspection of the electronic cigarette market. The meeting required that the main responsibility of the electronic cigarette store should be consolidated, and the non-standard problems of electronic cigarettes should be dealt with and resolutely prevented. occurs repeatedly. The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration held a teleconference on the deployment of a special inspection of the e-cigarette market. The meeting pointed out that the special inspection of the e-cigarette market was another important measure for the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation to jointly promote the supervision of e-cigarettes. It reflects the clear attitude and firm determination of the two departments to continue to crack down on illegal production and sales of electronic cigarettes in accordance with the law and protect the rights and interests of minors. The special inspection of the electronic cigarette market started on July 10, 2020 for a period of two months. Tobacco monopoly bureaus at all levels must actively cooperate with market supervision departments at the same level to effectively strengthen organizational leadership, analysis and judgment, and overall coordination, strive to completely rectify the chaos in the electronic cigarette market, and strive to achieve the expected goals of electronic cigarette supervision; attach great importance to the policy of special inspection actions The complexity of nature and practical problems, strictly in accordance with laws and regulations, to ensure effective results. Provincial bureaus must continue to exert regulatory pressure, continuously increase control efforts, insist on tackling the irregularities of e-cigarettes when they emerge, and resolutely prevent recurrence.

On November 26, 2021, the State Council issued a decision on amending the Regulations on the Implementation of the Tobacco Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China. In order to strengthen the supervision of new tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes, the State Council has decided to make the following amendments to the Regulations on the Implementation of the Tobacco Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China: add one article as Article 65: "Electronic cigarettes and other new tobacco products refer to the relevant provisions of these Regulations on cigarettes. The provisions shall be implemented.” In addition, the order of the provisions shall be adjusted accordingly. This decision shall come into force on the date of promulgation. The "Regulations for the Implementation of the Tobacco Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China" shall be revised accordingly and republished in accordance with this decision.

From May 1, 2022, the revised "Several Regulations on Tobacco Monopoly in Gansu Province" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") came into effect. The "Regulations" emphasize that sales of cigarettes (including electronic cigarettes) to minors in violation of the regulations, refusal to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, may concurrently be fined between 50,000 yuan and 500,000 yuan.